A Sermon Series on 1 Corinthians (Part 2)
1 Corinthians 1:10 -31
The first issue in the Corinthian church was division.
If we understand our identity as christians, we can solve a lot of problems the church has.
Our Christian identify…
We are called. We need to listen to God’s voice and calling
Because we are called, we need to be humbled and put ourselves under the authority of who called us
We need to have fellowship with Jesus
What happens if we are divided? We may experience a lot of problems such as division in the church, our family, or our work place.
In the Corinthians church, there were 4 different factions. Paul, Apollos, Peter, and Christ.
Paul planted this church. He became a spiritual father to those in Corinth. The people who follow Paul are the ones who follow his ministry. They were not only influenced by his teachings, but by how he lived his life. Most of his followers were non Jewish people.
Apollos came from Alexandria. The city was known for knowledge and wisdom. People assumed those who came from Alexandria were very smart. Apollos was a learned man with a good education. He was eloquent in the way of his teaching and preaching. Most of his followers were non Jewish people.
Peter. Some people follow Peter who had no affiliation with the Corinthian church because they didn’t like Paul or apollos. These people were Jewish. Peter’s vision was to build a Jewish church, unlike Apollos or Paul. There was ethnic division in the church. Jewish v. Non Jewish.
Christ. Those who follow Christ didn’t like churches being divided by ethnicity. Those who followed Christ only wanted to be faithful to him.
Those in the church did not agree with one another. and were quarreling amongst each other. They didn’t have fellowship with one another. They didn’t eat together. In the same way, at our church, we often eat with only those who we are comfortable with like our house church members.
We might also experience division in our lives. There may also be division with family members, work, co-workers, in our own house churches, etc.
Five years after the Corinthian church was established they were experiencing this division.
We may have potential dangers in the same way as the Corinthian church. Why do we fight with each other? Some may say it’s because we are different. If our division is created by differences, there is no solution. Because God created everyone differently. There is a deeper reason we fight.
We are not humble enough (I think I am better than you). About 95% of this group of people were very poor. 5-10% of this congregation were super rich. They accepted Christ and experienced the gift of the Holy Spirit in their life. Those who were poor thought they were better than others because they were more spiritual. Those with money were laughing at the spiritual ones and looked down on them because they didn’t believe they were better. We fight not because we are different but because we are not humble.
They wanted to live their life to pursue worldly standards. They competed with each other to achieve power, popularity and fame. Their desire to live their life by worldly standards divided them.
There was division because of their ego. Their ego, pride, and self-centeredness. In v. 12 they say “I follow Christ, I follow Apollos, etc.” in the English language we put the subject in front of the verb. The latin root ego means I, which means “I” or “ego” is the problem. They are not actually following Christ or Paul, they are following their own ego.
Because of these 3 issues; their church was divided. How can we overcome this division? How can we be united in one mind in the same purpose with one heart?
We need to be united with Christ. Have a mind of Christ. God never asked us to give up our differences with one another. We need to celebrate our differences and diversity with Jesus. But seek Christ’s heart to be unified.
Ways we can be united
Be humble.
Have the mind of Christ
Instead of thinking about what I want or what I think is right, ask God. With any decision we make in our life, we ask God first.
Reflection Questions:
In what ways do you see division in our church? Is there an answer or solution to the division?
How can you be united with Christ? How can you help others be united with Christ?
